Metal dam.



PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904.

J. L. HOLMES.

METAL DAM. v APPLICATION FILED 00T. 28. '1903.

Y WITNESSES.'

ATTORNEYS PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904. J. L. HOLMES.

METAL DAM.

APPLIOATION FILED 00128. 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lN0 MODEL.

N VEN T? Jssel; 72 caZzjzZZmeJ PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904.

J. L. HOLMES.

METAL DAM.

APPLICATION FILED 00128. 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3..

No MODEL.

W/TNESSES."

A ITO/m5 ys No. 771,071. l PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904.

l J. L. HOLMES. l

METAL DAM.

APPLIOATION FILED 0002.28. 1903.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A 7TOHNE YS UNITED STATES Patented September 27, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

METAL DANI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,071, dated September 27', 1904.

Application filed October 28, 1903.

T a/ZZ whom, it ivi/ty concern:

Be it known that I, JESSE LINCOLN HoLMEs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Butte, in the county of Silverbow and State of Montana, have invented a new and Improved Metal Dam, of which the following is a full, clear, andY exact description.

The invention relates to the formation of reservoirs for the'st'orage of water used in power plants for irrigation purposes and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved metal dam more especially designed for use in canyons, streams, and other waterways having' steep or slanting banks, which dam can be readily set up, is exceedingly strong and durable, and is arranged to dispense almost entirely with the use of masonry and to allow of building the dam without seriously interfering with the natural flow of the water in the waterway'.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the anchorages for the truss-rods. Fig. 3 is a face view of the downstream side of the improvement as applied, the spillway and the waterway being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the improvement as applied, the spillway being omitted. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional plan view of part of the dam structure and brace connection. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional plan view of a post, the foundation-plate, and part of the facing. Fig. 7 is a face view of the same. Fig. 8 is an enlarg'ed sectional plan view of a modified form of facing' and connection with a brace. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a modified form of anchorage as applied to the bed of the water- Serial No. 178.856. (No model.)

way. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the anchorage.

shown in Fig. 9, and Fig. l1 is a perspective view of the stand for the anchorage shown 1n Flg. 9.

The dam extending across a waterway A consists in its general construction of a metallic dam structure B, embedded at its bot-.

structure B is braced by braces in the form of.

truss-rods O, extending on the upstream side of the dam and connected with upstream'anchorages D, set and held on the bottom A/ of the waterway. The foundation of the dam.-

structure B is formed of an upright transversely-extending metallic plate E, (see Figs. l, 6, and 7,). resting on the bottom of a recess A3, formed transversely in the waterway and widened at the top, as at A4. After the foun.

dation-plate Eis set in the recess A3 it is locked therein by a filling A5, of hydraulic cement or the like, and in order to prevent the foundation-plate E from being pulled up on an upward strain the side walls of the said recess A3 are made tapering' to enlarge the recess at the bottom, as plainly indicated in Fig. l, and the lower end or base of the foundation-plate E is widened by the use of metallic strips E', extending' on both sides of the plate and throughout the length thereof.

On the top of the foundation-plate E are set posts F, placed suitable distances apart and each consisting of two spaced I-beams F and ,and F2, (see Figs. 6, 7 and 8,) connected with each other at the lower ends by a bottom plate or block F3. fastened in position by bolts F i and flush at its under side with the lower edges of the I-beams, so as to rest with the latter on the top of the foundation-plate E. From the under side of the bottom plate or block F3 depend lugs F5, straddling the foundation-plate E and secured thereto by a suitable bolt F, to prevent shifting of the post in either direction on the foundation-plate E.

It is understood that the web of each I-beam F and F2 extends at right angles to the foun' dation-plate E, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 6, and the said I-beams are spaced suflicient distances apart to permit the entrance of the outer ends of the truss-rods C, which outer ends are connected by transverse pivot-pins C with bearingplates C2, bolted or otherwise fastened to the inner faces of the webs of the I-beams F and F2, as plainly illustrated in Fig. 5. The pivotpins C preferably extend through openings i'n the said webs, and the outer ends of the said pivot-pins are covered by suitable caps C3, likewise bolted or otherwise fastened to the webs of the I-beams and to the bearing-plates.

The downstream sides of the I-beams F and F2 are connected with each other by a vertically-disposed plate F7 for retaining the iilling G of hydraulic cement or a mixture of hydraulic cement and crushed rock, the said filling being placed into the spaces between the I-beams, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 1, so as prevent leakage of the water by way of the posts.

The truss-rods C of the bracing are each preferably made in sections, connected with each other by a tu rnbuckle Cf, as plainly illustrated in Fig. 1, and the truss-rods for each post are pivotally connected bypivot-pinsC witha brace-plate C, fulcrumed on a pivotpin D, held in stands D2, forming part of the anchorage and resting on the top of the bottom Al of the waterway, as plainly shown in Fig. l. It will be seen that the bearing-plates C2 for the truss-rods are spaced suitable distances Yapart at the I-beams of each post, the said bearing-plates beingspaced farther apart from the bottom upward, as less bracingis required near the upper end of the dam structure than near the lower end thereof. By the construction described the truss-rods C extend in a vertical plane and in aspread-out or fan shape from the brace-plate C, pivoted on the anchorage D. By use of the turnbuckle C4 each truss-rod maybe adjusted to a nicety when setting up the post, so as to insure proper bracing of each post throughout the entire length thereof from the anchorage D, located on the upstream side of the dam.

Thepivot-pin D of each anchorage is engaged by the eye of an eyebolt D3, extending through a bore-hole in the bottom A of the Waterway. The bore-hole for the eyebolt D3 is drilled from a tunnel A, formed transversely in the bottom A of the waterway and leading to a shaft A7 (see Fig. 3) for the workmen to enter the tunnel in boring the said holes. The eyebolt D3 extends into the tunnel, and its nut D5 screws against a washer D4, resting against one wall of the tunnel A, so that the strain of the brace for each post is exerted against-the rock or other material forming the bottom A of the waterway, it beingunderstood that the eyebolt D"3 extends in an angular direction and in the same vertical plane as the truss-rod C, so that an exceedingly strong anchorage for the truss-rod is provided.

The stand D2 is preferably made in two parts, as illustrated in Fig. 2, but it may be made in one part, as shown in Figs. 9, 10, and ll; but in each case the eyebolt D3 is pivotally connected with the stand, and the brace-plate C6 is similarly connected with the stand and preferably at the same pivot which connects the eyebolt D3 with the stand.

After the posts are erected and braced, as described, the dam-facing is placed in position yon the upstream side of the posts, and this facing consists of metal plates H, riveted or otherwise securedto the flanges of the opposite I-bearns of adjacent posts, so as to leave space between the iianges of the I-beams F :and F2 of a post for kthe passage of the trussrods C. The plates H may be flat, as shown in Fig. 6, or arched, as illustrated in Fig. 8. In case the fiat plates'(shown in Fig. 6) are used the longitudinal jointsof the plates are covered by bars H', preferably made of T- iron and riveted or otherwise fastened to adjacent plates to greatly reinforce the facing tand prevent leakage of the water at the joints.

The plates at the sides of the facing are extended into recesses A8, formed in the banks yor side walls of the waterway. and are ernlbedded in a filling of hydraulic cement to render the facing proof against leakage, to securely hold the dam structure in place withyout the use of abutments or other masonry.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that ithe bottom plates and the lower ends of the posts extend into the enlarged portion A4 of `the recess A3, and the said parts are embedded in the hydraulic cement filled into the top porltion A4L after the plates H are in position on `.the posts erected on the already-embedded 'foundation-plate E.

The spillway I is formed of curved bars I', lbolted or otherwise secured to the upper ends `of the posts `B and extending from the same in a downstreamdirection, as plainly shown in Fig. l. Braces I2 are pivoted on bearingblocks I3 and If, of which the blocks I4 are secured to the I-beams of the posts, the same as the bearing-blocks C2 for the truss-rods C, and the blocks I3 are secured to the webs of the bars 'I'. The bars 1I are covered by metallic plates I5, which form the bottom of the spillway.

By the arrangement described the water flowing over the spillway I is projected a considerable distance downstream away from'the `foundation of the dam structure, so as not to injure the foundation, at the same time leaving a water-free space on the downstreamface of the dam structure for workmen to enter for repairs, inspection, and other purposes.

IOO

On the downstream side of the facing H are arranged gates J for covering openings in the facing at the lower-lend thereof to allow of draining the reservoir whenever it is desired to do so. The g'ates J are mounted to slide in vertical guideways J secured to the facing', and each gate is provided with'an upwardly-extending rod J2, having its upper threaded end engaged by a nut-wheel J 3, abutting against a bearing J4 for the` rod J2 and secured to the facing. Now on the operator turning the nut-wheel J 3 the gate is raised or lowered, according to the direction in which the nut-wheel J3 is turned. Other means may be employed for the same purpose.

Various parts of the dam may be differently constructed without deviating from the spirit of my invention. For instance, the anchorages D may each be made of a singlepiece stand D, as shown in Figs. l0 and 1l, and the base of such stand fastened by bolts D7 to the bottom Al of the waterway, the bolts D7 engaging a retaining-plate D, resting against the roof of the tunnel A, as shown in Fig. 9. The brace-plate C7 for the truss-rods C instead of being made of one piece may be made in sections, as shown in Figs. 9 and l0; but the said brace-plate -in either case is pivotally connected with the anchorage-stand, and the truss-rods are pivotally connected with the brace-plate. The facing-plates H may be curved or arched in a transverse direction, as shown in Fig. 8, to increase'the strength of the plates and to compensate for transverse expansion and contraction of the dam structure, owing' to the variations in temperature during the several seasons. A similar result is obtained by having the I-beams F and F2 of each post spaced apart to allow transverse yielding of the I-beams on undue expansion and contraction.

In building the dam the recesses A3 A8 and the tunnel A and its shaft A7 are formed in the waterway, and then the foundationplate E is set in the recess A3 and embedded in hydraulic cement, and while this operation is going on the holes for the anchorage eyebolts D3 may be drilled from within the tun- An'el AG and temporarily closed-that is, until the eyebolts are inserted. The posts F are now erected on the foundation-plate E and the anchorages D placed in position and bolted down, and then the truss-rods C for the bracing are used and adjusted to properly brace the posts. Now while this work is going on the flow of the water in the waterway is not interfered with to any great extent. After the posts are in position and braced then the facing-plates are put in position, with the gates J, however, open to allow free iiowvof the water in the waterway, the gates being of such number and capacity that the entire volume of the water in the waterway can flow 'on without causing the level of the water to rise to any great extent. The lower portions of the facing' and posts are embedded in hydraulic cement and the ends of the side plates of the facing' are likewise embedded and the posts are filled with a filling material G to render the same solid and water-tight. When the dam structure is completed, the gates J are closed to dam up the water on the upstream side of the darn, thereby storing water for use in power plants or for irrigation and other purposes.

In the dam described the dam structure B, which has to retain the water, extends vertically, and hence exposes the least possible surface to the pressure of the water, and as the bracing fol` the dam structure and the anchorages therefor are all on the upstream side of the dam structure it is evident that the overflow passing over the spillway l does not come in.contact with the bracing or anchorages, and hence it cannot interfere with or damage the same.

As the stored water is over the anchorages for the bracing it is evident that the weight of the water assists in holding the anchorages in place to withstand the strain exerted by the water against the dam structure and its bracing. By having the anchorages and bracing on the upstream side of the dam structure and submerged in the stored water, they are not liable to be injured by ioating matter, ice,

fioods, ac. It will also be noticed that by the construction described every unit of support is dependent only on itself, and hence if a part should become weak or give out it does not necessarily invalidate the remaining parts, although the dam may-be incapacitated for the time being.

Then using' the dam for wide waterways having slanting banks, the metal plates of'the facing' extend into the bed-rock the same as above described, but the posts are made shorter as the ends of the dam at the banks of the Awaterway are reached.

lt will be understood that more than one tunnel A maybe employed for the'anchorages to provide more rock resistance for the anchorages and braces.

Havingthus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A metal dam comprising atransverse dam `structure having a facing and embedded at its bottom in the bed of the waterway and embedded at its ends in the sides of the waterway, and a bracing anchored upstream in the bed of the waterway and connected with the said dam structure, as set forth. p

2. A metal dam comprising a transverse metallic dam structure having a sheet-metal facing and embedded at its bottom and ends in recesses in the bottom and sides of the waterway, upstream braces connected with the IOO TIO

said structure, and anchorages spaced from 4the structure at the upstream side thereof and engaged by the said braces, as set forth.

3. A metal dam comprising metal foundation-plates embedded in a transverse recess in the bed of the waterway, posts erected on the said foundation-plates, and a facing attached to the posts, as set forth.

4L. A metal dam comprising metal foundation-plates embedded in a transverse recess in the bed of the waterway, posts erected on the said foundation-plates, and a facing attached to the posts, the ends of the facing being embedded in recesses in the sides of the "waterway, as set forth.

5. A metal dam comprising metal foundation-plates embedded in a transverse recess in the bed of the waterway, posts erected on the said foundation-plates, a facing attached to the posts, and a bracing anchored upstream in the bed of the waterway and connected with the said posts, as set forth.

6. A metal dam comprising spaced posts erected in the waterway and extending in a row across the waterway, a dam-facing attached to the said posts, and braces anchored upstream and connected with the said posts, as set forth.

7. A metal dam comprising spaced posts erected in the waterway and extending in a row across the waterway, a dam-facing attached to the said posts, and braces anchored upstream and connected with the said posts, each brace consisting of a plurality of trussrods arranged in a vertical plane and spread fan shape, the outer ends being connected with the corresponding post at different points in the height of the post, as set forth.

8. A metal dam comprising spaced posts erected in the waterway and extending in a row across the waterway, a dam-facing attached to the said posts, and braces anchored upstream and connected with the said posts, each brace consisting' of an eyebolt anchored in the bed of the waterway and in longitudinal alinement with the corresponding post, a stand on the bed of the waterway, engaged by the eyebolt, a brace-plate pivoted on the said stand and truss-rods connecting the braceplate with the post at different points of the height of the post, as set forth.

9. A metal dam comprising a metal foundation embedded in recesses formed in the bottom of the waterway, spaced posts erected on the foundation, braces anchored upstream and connected with the said posts, and a dam-facing of sheet metal attached to the said posts, as set forth.

l0.' A metal dam comprising a transverse row of posts erected in the waterway, each post consisting of a pair of spaced I-beams, bottom plates connecting the 1-beams of a pair together, a' dam-facing attached to the posts, braces, one for each post and pivotally connected therewith,and upstream ancho rages for the said braces, as set forth.

11. A metal dam comprising a transverse row of posts erected in the waterway, each post consisting of a pair of spaced I-beams, bottom plates connecting the I-beams of a pair together, a dam-facing attached to the posts, braces, one for each post, each brace consisting of a plurality of truss-rods extending between the spaced I-beams, to pivotally connect with the same at their webs, and upstream anchorages for the said braces, as set forth.

l2. A metal dam comprising a structure eX- tending across the waterway and consisting of a metallic foundation embedded in a recess in the bottom of the waterway, posts erected on the said foundation, and a metal-dam facing on the said posts, the lower ends of the posts and the bottom of the facing being embedded in the bottom of the waterway, and the ends of the facing being embedded in the sides of the waterway, as set forth.

13. A metal dam comprising a structure eX- tending across the waterway and consisting of a metallic foundation embedded in a recess in the bottom of the waterway, posts erected on the said foundation, a metal-dam facing on the said posts, the lower ends of the posts and the bottom of the facing being embedded in the bottom of the waterway, and the ends of the facing being embedded in the sides of the waterway, and a bracing for the said structure, consisting of upstream anchorages eX- tending into a tunnel in the bed of the waterway and braces pivotally connecting the anchorages with the posts of the dam structure, as set forth.

11i. A metal dam provided with posts, a facing consisting of metal plates attached to the posts, and bars over the joints of abutting plates, for reinforcing the facing and for closing the joints, to prevent leakage, as set forth.

l5. A metal dam provided with spaced posts, each consisting' of a pair of spaced I-beams and a bottom plate connecting the posts with each other, and a metal foundation-plateon which the bottom plate is secured, as set forth.

16. A metal dam provided with spaced posts, each consisting of a pair of spaced I-beams and a bottom plate connecting the posts with each other, each bottom plate having depending lugs, and a metal foundation-plate, on which rests the bottom plate and to which the lugs are secured, as set forth.

17. A metal dam provided with spaced posts, each consisting of a pair of spaced I-beams and a bottom plate connecting the posts with each other, and a metal foundation-plate on which the bottom plate is secured, the said posts resting with the lower edges of their webs on the said plate, as set forth.

IOO

IIO

18. A metal dam provid ed with spaced posts, each consisting of a pair of spaced I-beams anda bottom plate connecting the posts with each other, a metal foundation-plate on which the bottom plate is secured, and a metal facing consisting of plates secured to the I-beams of adjacent posts, as set forth.

19. A metal dam provided with spaced posts, each consisting of a pair of spaced I-beams and a bottom plate connecting the posts with each other, a metal foundation-plate on which the bottom plate is secured, a metal facing consisting of plates secured to the I-beams of adjacent posts, bearing-plates on the inner or opposite faces of the webs of the I-beams, anchorages, and truss-rods pivotally connecting the anchorages with the said bearingplates, as set forth.

20. A metal dam provided with spaced posts, each consisting of a pair of spaced I-beams and a bottom plate connecting the posts with each other, a metal foundation-plateon which the bottom plate is secured, a metal facing consisting of plates secured to the I-bearns of adjacent posts, bearing-plates on the inner or opposite faces of the webs of the I-beams, anchorages, truss-rods pivotally connecting the anchorages with vthe said bearing-plates, and closing devices for the said I-beams, to render the posts proof against leakage, as set forth.

2l. A metal dam provided with an anchorage for the dam, braces consisting of anchorstands set on the bottom of the waterway, an

anchor-rod extending from the stand through the bed of the waterway into a tunnel in the bed, and means for securing the end of 'the anchor-rod in the tunnel in position against the wall of the tunnel, as set forth.

22. A metal dam provided with an anchorage for the dam, braces consisting of anchorstands set on the bottom of the waterway, an anchor rod pivotally connected with the anchor-stand and extending from the stand through the bed of the waterway into a tunnel in the bed, and means for securing the end of the anchor-rod in the tunnel in position against the wall of the tunnel, as set forth.

23. A metal dam provided with a darn structure, a stand fastened to the bed of the waterway, a brace-plate fulcrumed on the stand., and a series of truss-rods fulcrurned. on the braceplate and pivotally connected with the dam structure, as set forth.

24. A metal dam provided with a dam structure, a stand fastened to the bed of the waterway, a brace-plate fulcrumed on the stand, and a series of truss-rods fulcrumed on the braceplate and pivotally connected with the dam structure, the truss-rods extending in fan shape from the brace-plate to pivotally connect with the dam structure at different points of its height, as set forth.

25. A metal dam comprising a transverse dam structure having a facing and embedded at its bottom in the bed of the waterway and embedded at its ends in the sides of the waterway, a bracing anchored upstream in the bed of the waterway and connected with they said' dam structure, and a metal spillway attached to the upper end of the dam structure and extending downwardly from the downstream face of the structure, as set forth.

26. A metal dam comprising metal foundation-plates embedded in a transverse recess in the bed of the waterway, posts erected on the said foundation-plates, a facing attached to the posts, a bracing anchored upstream in the bed of the waterway and connected with the said posts, and a metal spillway, provided with bars attached to the upper ends of the posts, braces between the bars and posts and a metal bottom supported by the said bars, as set forth.

27. A metal dam comprising metal foundation-plates embedded in a transverse recess in the bed of the waterway, posts erected on the said foundation-plates, a facing attached to the posts, a bracing anchored upstream in the bed of the waterway and connected with the said posts, and a metal spillway consisting of curved bars secured to the upper ends of the posts, braces pivotally connecting the posts with the said bars and metal bottom plates supported on the said bars, as set forth.

28. A metal dam comprising metal foundation-plates embedded in a transverse recess in the bed of the waterway, postserected on the said foundation-plates, a facing attached to the posts, a bracing anchored upstream in the bed of the waterway and connected with the said posts, and gates on the downstream side of the facing, as set forth.

29. A metal dam comprising a transverse dam structure having a facing and embedded at its lower end in the bed of the waterway and embedded at its ends in the sides of the waterway, a bracing anchored upstream in the bed of the waterway and connected with the said dam structure, a metal spillway attached to the upper end of the dam structure and extending downwardly from the downstream -face of the structure, and gates on the said facing, below the spillway, as set forth.

30. A metal dam provided with a post formed of spacing I-beams, and a plate connecting the downstream-anges of the beams with each other and leaving the upstreamflanges spaced apart, for the passage of braces, as set forth. j

31'. A metal darn provided with a post formed of spaced I-beams, a connecting bottom plate for fastening the beams together, a pair of bearing-plates attached to the inner faces of the webs of the I-beams, a brace-pin engaging the bearing-plates, and a brace extending between the I-'beams and fulcrumed on the brace-pin, as set forth.

32. -A metal dam provided with a post IOO IIO

' formed of spaced I-beams, a connecting botallel with the general direction of the waterpressure, said bracing being anchored in the bed of the waterway.

1n testimony whereof I have signed my name I5 to this specification in the presence of two subscrbing witnesses.

JESSE LINCOLN HOLMES.

Vitnesses:

EDWIN M. LAMB, W. Y. PEMBERTON. 

